KR20240021284A - Drying apparatus and method for drying vessel units - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to container units (1, 1'), in particular a drying device for drying candles, in particular to a transport unit (102) with transport pins, wherein the transport unit (102) moves the container units along a drying section. designed to carry the units 1, 1' - a fluid flow device 108, designed to supply a fluid flow to the vessel units 1, 1' at least partially along the drying section, and a fluid for signal transmission. Coupled to the flow device 108, the fluid flow device 108 is substantially stepless based on the vessel properties of the vessel units 1, 1' for supplying the vessel unit with a fluid flow having predefined flow characteristics. It includes a control device 122 configured to adjust.

Description

Drying apparatus and method for drying vessel units

The present invention relates to a drying apparatus and method for drying container units, in particular candles, such as beverage cans.

Drying devices are basically known, in particular pin ovens and continuous drying ovens, also known as internal bake ovens (IBO). Container units, such as candles for beverages, often have a coating on the outer shell surface formed by a coating of varnish or paint. Such coating may display, for example, the supplier's brand name, instructions for use, or other content. Additionally, the interior surfaces of the candles are typically coated in a process step downstream of the pin ovens and then dried in a continuous drying oven. And those coatings are used that affect the manufacturing process of the can. For example, candles are coated with such a varnish on the underside of the can to adjust the sliding ability of the candle on different conveyor belts.

Devices for applying such coatings to container units are also referred to as printing devices. For these coatings to remain durable, they generally must be cured after application. For curing this coating, for example, pin ovens are used in which the coating is convectively heated, dried, cured, and/or baked.

Pin ovens generally have a conveying unit. The transport unit may be a chain conveyor with transport pins arranged spaced apart from each other along the main direction of extension. The container units are positioned by transfer pins. For this purpose, transport pins protrude into the container units, which are open at one end.

To enable drying of the above-described coatings, fin ovens typically have fans that provide airflow to different parts within the fin oven. In particular, high fluid flow rates are required within the oven unit where the vessel units are heated to approximately 180 degrees.

Fin ovens require large exhaust fans and recirculation fans to meet the various requirements. Meanwhile, drying must be performed safely. Additionally, to minimize the risk of explosion, solvent input must not exceed limit values. Additionally, regardless of legal regulations, to ensure the functionality of the pin oven, it must be ensured that no substantial deposits of solvents, paint, paint components, or dust occur.

One drawback of existing pin ovens is their high energy consumption. In particular, fans used in oven chambers are characterized by high power consumption. Additionally, heating units, such as gas burners or electric heaters, are used to heat the fluid in the oven chamber, which also require energy. In order to meet increasing ecological requirements and increasing sustainability standards, the energy consumption of pin ovens must be reduced.

Another drawback of known fin ovens is that the electronic transmission of relevant information about can density and coating type is considered unreliable. Therefore, the minimum exhaust air volume or minimum exhaust air flow along with the maximum solvent dosage must be defined for the fin oven.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a drying apparatus, in particular a pin oven, and a method for drying container units that reduce or eliminate one or more of the above-described disadvantages. In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a solution to reduce the energy consumption of drying devices.

This object is achieved with a drying device and method according to the features of the independent patent claims. Further advantageous embodiments of these aspects are given in the respective dependent patent claims. The features individually recited in the claims and description may be combined with each other in any technically useful manner, and further embodiments of the invention are shown.

According to a first aspect, the object is achieved by a drying device for drying container units, in particular candles, in particular a pin oven, which is a transport unit, in particular with transport pins - the transport unit has a drying section. a fluid flow device designed to supply a fluid flow to the container units at least partially along the drying section, and coupled to the fluid flow device by signals, the fluid flow device being designed to supply a fluid flow to the container units at least partially along the drying section; and a control device configured to substantially steplessly adjust the fluid flow device based on the vessel properties of the vessel units to supply a fluid flow with the flow characteristics.

The invention is based on the recognition that known configurations of fluid flow devices, for example with three to five stages, do not allow energy efficient use of drying devices, since they do not allow fluid flow to meet the requirements. This is because it is impossible to set . Additionally, the inventors have discovered that combining the settings of the fluid flow devices with vessel characteristics allows efficient control of the drying device. In particular, depending on the kinetic, material-specific and/or geometric vessel properties, advantageous control may be possible, leading to better resource efficiency. For example, such drying devices are characterized by lower production of carbon dioxide.

The fluid flow device is designed, in particular, in such a way that the exhaust air flow and/or the recirculating air flow of the drying device are set so that, on the one hand, the statutory and vessel-specific requirements are met and, on the other hand, a minimum energy consumption of the fluid flow device is ensured. This can be controlled by control based on container characteristics. On the basis of such control, for example, the solvent input into the drying device can be used as a control parameter, rather than the minimum exhaust air volume usually used. Accordingly, the present invention enables an energy efficient drying device such that container units, such as beverage cans, produced with such a drying device also have an optimized environmental footprint.

The drying device may be, for example, a pin oven or a continuous drying oven (IBO). In the following, the invention is explained with reference to a pin oven. The described features, properties and advantages apply similarly to drying devices in general and continuous drying ovens in particular.

Container units are, in particular, for storing food products, especially liquid food products. For example, they may be candles, especially beverage candles. Container units may be made of, for example, steel or aluminum, or may include these materials. Additionally, composite materials for container units are also conceivable. Container units generally have a cylindrical shell surface that can be closed at its ends. For example, the container units may be deep-drawn components that are open at one end after the deep-drawing process and closed with an openable closure.

The pin oven comprises in particular a transport unit with transport pins. The transport unit may be a chain, for example. In particular, the transport unit is coupled to the drive unit so that it can be moved along the drying section. The transport pins are preferably arranged spaced apart from each other on the transport unit. The transport pins are arranged and designed on the transport unit, in particular for positioning the container units thereon, in particular cans, so that the container units can be moved along the drying section in a substantially stable position.

The fin oven further includes a fluid flow device designed to supply fluid flow to the vessel units at least partially along the drying section. As will be described in more detail below, the fluid flow device may have two or more fluid flow units, each of which provides fluid flow at least partially along the drying section.

The fluid flow device is designed, in particular, to guide the supply air flow in the environment of the fin oven into the fin oven, in particular the oven chamber, and to guide the exhaust air flow out of the fin oven, in particular the oven chamber. Additionally, the fluid flow device can create a recirculating air flow within the fin oven, particularly the oven chamber. The fluid flow device may be designed as a fan, for example. In particular, it is desirable for the fluid flow device to have two or more fans.

The fin oven further includes a control device coupled to the fluid flow device by signals. The control device is configured to substantially steplessly adjust the fluid flow device based on the vessel characteristics of the vessel units.

Adjusting a fluid flow device relates, in particular, to adjusting predefined fluid flow characteristics. For example, the fluid flow characteristic may be fluid pressure, which may be specified, for example, in bars, and/or fluid volume flow, which may be specified, for example, in cubic meters per hour.

Different fluid flow characteristics may be relevant in different parts of the fin oven. For example, within a pre-drying frame, one goal is to influence a certain fluid pressure on the outer bottom of the vessel units to ensure safe placement of the vessel units on the transport pins. Meanwhile, inside the oven chamber, one goal is to establish a specific fluid volume flow.

As described in more detail below, container characteristics may be container unit transport speed, container unit density, length, diameter, wall thickness, paint composition, paint and/or solvent amount.

The fluid flow device is adjusted substantially steplessly by the control device based on vessel characteristics. Substantially stepless means, in particular, substantially continuously. Substantially stepless may further mean that the fluid flow device is not individually adjusted.

Substantially stepless, wherein the set fluid flow, e.g., measured in volume per unit of time, is less than 10%, less than 5%, or less than 2.5% of the predefined fluid flow, e.g., specified in volume per unit of time. It may further mean that it occupies. And, substantially stepless can mean that the fluid flow device is adjustable in 10 or more steps, 20 or more steps, or 100 or more steps. Substantially stepless can also mean that the step interval between two successive steps is less than 10% of the adjustment range of the fluid flow device, less than 5% of the adjustment range, or less than 2.5% of the adjustment range.

The fluid flow device is adjusted such that the fluid flow has predefined fluid flow characteristics. Fluid flow characteristics may be, for example, fluid pressure and/or volume of fluid provided per unit time. With a fluid flow device adjusted in this way, the energy consumption of the fluid flow device is reduced, since the distance between the energy-optimized setting and the adjustable setting is small. Furthermore, as optimized drying is possible with the fluid flow, energy consumption, for example gas consumption or electricity consumption, can be reduced for the heating oven. This further reduces the amount of exhaust gases after treatment, thereby reducing the amount of energy required.

The fin oven preferably comprises a heating unit, preferably a gas burner as described above, arranged and designed to heat the fluid flow within the oven chamber such that the vessel units are heated to a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time. For example, the predetermined temperature may be 180 degrees Celsius or higher. For example, the predetermined time may be at least 0.5 seconds, preferably at least 1 second.

The container properties are preferably kinematic container properties. In particular, the container properties preferably characterize the transport speed at which the transport unit transports the container units. Furthermore, the vessel characteristic is the vessel unit density, which preferably characterizes the number of vessel units transported per unit time. Vessel unit density describes, inter alia, the number of vessel units entering and/or being transported through the pin oven per unit of time. For example, the vessel unit density may be 2,500 vessel units per minute.

The pin oven of a preferred embodiment includes a density measurement unit configured to detect container unit density. The density measurement unit is preferably configured to generate and/or provide a density signal characterizing the container unit density. The density measuring unit preferably has two or more density measuring sensors for redundant detection of the container unit density.

The density measurement unit may be, for example, a counting unit. The density measurement unit preferably comprises one or two or more optical sensors, for example light barriers, inductive sensors, color sensors and/or infrared sensors. And, the density measurement unit may have proximity sensors such as inductance sensors, capacitance sensors, magnetic sensors, and/or ultrasonic sensors. In particular, density measurement sensors can be designed like this. Alternatively or additionally, the density measuring device may have a camera or line control.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized in that it comprises a fluid flow measuring unit for detecting the exhaust air flow coming out of the fin oven, in particular the oven chamber, preferably the fluid flow measuring unit is configured to detect the exhaust air flow coming out of the fin oven, in particular the oven chamber. It has two or more fluid flow measurement sensors to redundantly detect the exhaust air flow coming from the.

The fluid flow device is preferably or comprises a fluid flow unit of the oven chamber. Such fluid flow units are designed in particular to form a supply air flow into the oven chamber and an exhaust air flow out of the oven chamber, respectively.

It is particularly advantageous for the fin oven to have a density measuring unit and a fluid flow measuring unit each designed to measure redundantly. Such fin ovens advantageously allow variable densities and variable exhaust air volumes to be measured. This means that safety regulations in some areas can be met without guaranteeing a fixed minimum exhaust air volume. This also provides a reliable way to measure the solvent concentration in the oven chamber, as required, for example according to the EN1539 standard. As a result, there is no need to specify a minimum exhaust air volume and maximum solvent dosage for the fin oven. Therefore, it is sufficient to specify the maximum solvent dosage per can and the maximum vessel unit density of the fin oven to set the minimum exhaust airflow. The solvent dosage is determined from the maximum can surface area, particularly the shell surface, and the amount of paint needed to coat the can surface.

Furthermore, the pin oven preferably comprises a speed measuring unit configured to detect the conveying speed. The speed measurement unit is preferably configured to generate and/or provide a speed signal characterizing the transport speed. The speed measurement unit may have, for example, a light barrier and/or an inductive sensor. It is particularly advantageous for the speed measurement unit to have an optical barrier and an inductive sensor to enable redundant detection of the conveying speed.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized in that the control device is configured to adjust the fluid flow device based on the density signal and/or the velocity signal. For example, the greater the vessel unit density, the greater the solvent dosage into the pin oven. Additionally, greater fluid flow is generally required when vessel units are transported through the pin oven at high speeds to ensure drying of the coating of the vessel units.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized by the fact that the control device is configured to steplessly adjust the fluid flow device so that a predefined fluid pressure and/or fluid volume transported per unit time can be provided.

In another preferred embodiment of the pin oven, the control device is configured to adjust the fluid flow device based on the state of at least one of the container units. Container conditions describe, for example, length, diameter, wall thickness, paint and/or solvent amount, paint type, paint composition, and/or paint density.

The fluid flow to be established depends on how the vessel units are designed. For example, vessel units with large wall thickness have a different heating curve than vessel units with small wall thickness. Additionally, the length of the vessel units may also be a vessel characteristic to consider, as the effect of fluid flow on different regions of a long vessel unit is different than that of a short vessel unit.

Taking vessel conditions into account when adjusting a fluid flow device allows for more precise adjustments so that the adjusted fluid flow characteristics are set as close as possible to the optimal fluid flow characteristics. Accordingly, the required energy input can be further reduced.

A pin oven of a preferred embodiment is characterized as comprising a condition measuring device arranged and configured to detect at least one vessel condition, preferably the at least one vessel condition being a shell surface of the vessel units, and the control device being configured to detect It is configured to determine the solvent dosage based on the container state and the detected container unit density.

The condition measurement device is preferably arranged and designed to generate and/or provide condition signals characterizing the condition of the vessel. The control device is, in particular, configured to receive and process the status signal and determine the solvent dosage based on the status signal.

Since the shell surface affects the amount of paint or solvent dosage per can, the solvent dosage specified for can size can be determined based on the shell surface to more accurately determine the minimum exhaust airflow required.

For example, a condition measurement device can be arranged and designed to detect the color of container units. Based on the color of the container units, their solvent dosage can be inferred. Using information characterizing the color of the container unit, the control device can determine, for example, a solvent dosage per container unit. Considering the vessel unit density, the control device can further determine the solvent dosage. Solvent dosages must be understood particularly in relation to time scales. The condition measuring device is arranged within the pre-drying frame of the pin oven.

The minimum exhaust air volume or minimum exhaust air flow mentioned in the introduction is generally the maximum vessel size, e.g. 500 ml, the maximum paint volume per vessel unit, and the maximum vessel unit density, e.g. 2,500 units per minute. It is decided based on In principle, the exhaust airflow should not fall below this minimum value. Minimal exhaust airflow reduces the possibility of adjusting the fluid flow device in an energy-optimal manner.

The invention is also based on the recognition that the minimum exhaust airflow can be made variable if the container size, amount of paint per container, and/or container unit density can be reliably determined. For example, if the vessel size is determined reliably, the minimum exhaust airflow may be reduced, for example because the actual size is used rather than the maximum vessel size described above.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized in that the control device is configured to determine the minimum exhaust air flow taking into account the determined solvent dosage. The control device is preferably configured to determine the solvent dosage based on the container unit size, the amount of solvent per container unit, and/or the container unit density. If reliable measured values are not available for one of these parameters, the maximum value is used for it.

More preferably, the control device controls the fluid flow device such that the fluid flow device delivers a minimum exhaust air flow from the fin oven, particularly the oven chamber. Additionally, the control device may be configured to take the safety factor into account when determining the exhaust air flow, such that the exhaust air flow to be set is greater than the minimum exhaust air flow.

Container unit size can be determined, for example, based on shell surface. The solvent dosage can be determined, for example, as a function of container unit density, shell surface and solvent amount, especially weight per volume, and can be specified as weight per hour. Based on such determination, the amount of solvent actually introduced per unit of time is taken into account, so no measurement of the amount of solvent in the air is necessary.

In another preferred embodiment, the control device is configured to adjust the fluid flow device based on the power output of the heating unit. The lower the solvent dosage, the lower the exhaust air flow. This allows for less supply air and less recirculated air, resulting in very little energy loss. As a result, the power required by the heating unit, especially the burner power, can be reduced, thereby reducing the exhaust air flow.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized by comprising a fluid inlet unit for allowing supply air flow into the fin oven, wherein a control device is coupled to the fluid flow inlet unit by signals and enters the fin oven. and configured to control the fluid inlet unit such that the supply air flow substantially matches the exhaust air flow from the fin oven.

Such control of the fluid inlet unit prevents significant amounts of fluid flow from entering or leaving the container unit inlet and container unit outlet. This allows the fluid flow within the fin oven to be controlled in a targeted manner.

In particular, the fluid inlet unit can be controlled and/or regulated by a control device. The supply air flow entering the fin oven is substantially equal to the exhaust air flow leaving the fin oven, and in particular, the incoming and outgoing fluid flows do not differ by more than 10%, less than 20%, or less than 30%. it means.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized by comprising an oven chamber for supplying heated fluid to the vessel units, the fluid flow device comprising a fluid recirculation unit arranged and designed to circulate fluid within the oven chamber. Includes. The oven chamber may be the oven chamber described above.

In particular, it is more desirable for the differential pressure of the air recirculation unit to be determined in the direction of fluid flow upstream and downstream of the fluid recirculation unit. For example, the differential pressure may be based on a pressure measured in the direction of fluid flow upstream of the fluid recirculation unit, and a pressure measured in the direction of fluid flow downstream of the fluid recirculation unit.

The control device is also preferably configured to detect material deposits when the differential pressure changes at the reference speed and reference temperature of the fluid recirculation unit. The reference speed and reference temperature may be selected substantially arbitrarily. It is important that the differential pressure remains substantially constant at the same speed and at the same temperature without material deposits so that material deposits can be deduced as the differential pressure changes.

The exhaust air flow is, in particular, a fluid flow leaving the oven chamber, caused for example by the above-described fluid flow unit of the oven chamber. The control device is preferably configured to output a warning signal when a defect is detected. In particular, the oven chamber is designed to heat the fluid such that the vessel units are heated to a temperature of at least 180 degrees Celsius for at least a predetermined period of time, in particular a short period, for example 0.5 seconds or 1 second.

A pin oven of another preferred embodiment comprises at least two temperature sensors, coupled by signals to a control device, configured to detect the container temperature of container units along a drying section within the oven chamber, the control device comprising: It is configured to determine the temperature profile of the vessel units according to. Preferably, the pin oven includes a plurality of temperature sensors. Based on the temperature profile, it can be advantageously determined whether the vessel units are exposed to the required maximum temperature for a sufficiently long time. Temperature sensors may be, for example, infrared sensors.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized in that the fluid flow device comprises or is a stabilization unit designed to stabilize the vessel units, the stabilization unit being such that the vessel units are stabilized on the transport fins based on vessel properties, Can be adjusted by a control device. The stabilization unit may act partially or entirely along the drying section.

In particular, the stabilization unit is arranged and designed to direct the fluid flow onto the bottoms of the container units such that the container units are pressed on the transport pins. Adjustment of the stabilization unit based on vessel properties is advantageous in that, for example, lower pressures are required at low conveying speeds than at high conveying speeds. As a result, the energy costs of the stabilization unit can be reduced.

Another preferred embodiment of the fin oven is characterized in that the fluid flow device includes or consists of a cooling unit designed to cool the vessel units, the cooling unit being configured to control the vessel units so that they are cooled based on vessel characteristics. can be adjusted by

For example, vessel units with long lengths or thick wall thicknesses require more cooling than shorter vessels with thinner wall thicknesses. In particular, the cooling unit is designed to cool the vessel units by delivering a fluid flow.

In particular, the cooling unit is arranged and designed to supply a fluid flow to the vessel units so that they are cooled. The control device is preferably configured to control the cooling unit based on vessel unit density and/or conveying speed. For example, when the transport speed is lower the residence time of the vessel units in the cooling unit is longer, so they are exposed to the fluid flow for a longer period of time. As a result, the fluid flow can be adjusted to affect the same temperature of the vessel units at the outlet of the cooling unit.

One of the temperature measuring sensors is preferably arranged at the outlet of the cooling unit to measure the temperature of the container units, and the control device is configured to control the fluid flow device based on the temperature of the container units.

In another preferred embodiment, the fin oven is provided with a condensate separator. In particular, the condensate separator is preferably arranged within the recirculation system of the fin oven. Alternatively or additionally, a condensate separator may be installed in the pipeline downstream of the exhaust air purification system. Furthermore, the condensate separator is preferably coupled to the control device by signals, and the control device is configured to control the condensate separator based on the container characteristics of the container units.

Another preferred embodiment of a pin oven is characterized in that the fluid flow device includes or is a vessel control unit designed to remove vessel units from the transport pins, the vessel control unit being capable of being adjusted by the control device based on vessel characteristics. there is. The vessel control unit generates negative pressure, inter alia, to remove vessel units from the transfer pins.

In particular, this negative pressure is applied to the bottoms of the container units. Since the bin removal unit, in particular, removes bin units just before the radius, the radius of the bin control unit, the mass of the bin units, and the transport speed in the area of the bin removal unit are relevant bin characteristics.

The individual units or components of the fluid flow device are preferably arranged in a defined order along the drying section. The stabilization unit is preferably placed at the beginning of the drying section, adjacent to the printing device. The vessel unit bottom coater is preferably arranged downstream of the stabilization unit. The oven chamber with the fluid flow unit and the fluid recirculation unit is preferably arranged further downstream. Further downstream, a cooling unit is arranged to cool the heated vessel units in the oven chamber. The vessel removal unit is preferably arranged further downstream from the cooling unit.

According to another aspect, the object mentioned in the introduction is achieved by a method for drying container units, in particular cans, comprising transporting the container units with transport pins along a drying section, at least partially along the drying section. supplying a fluid flow to the container units, and substantially steplessly adjusting the fluid flow based on the container characteristics of the container units.

The method includes detecting a vessel unit density, detecting a delivery speed, adjusting a fluid flow device based on the vessel unit density and/or delivery speed, a predefined fluid pressure and/or fluid delivered per unit of time. adjusting the volume, adjusting the fluid flow based on the container state of at least one of the container units, detecting the at least one container state, and determining the solvent dosage based on the detected container state and the container unit density. steps, adjusting the fluid flow based on the solvent dosage so that the predefined solvent dosage is not substantially exceeded, controlling the incoming fluid flow to substantially match the outgoing fluid flow, detecting the outgoing fluid flow, and oven. Circulating fluid within the chamber, detecting material deposits based on vessel characteristics, particularly transfer speed, vessel condition, and discharge fluid volume, detecting vessel temperatures of vessel units along a drying section within the oven chamber. , determining the temperature profile of the vessel units along the drying section, stabilizing the vessel units on the transport pins based on the vessel characteristics, cooling the vessel units with a fluid flow based on the vessel characteristics, the vessel units from the transport pins. It is more desirable to include one or more of these removal steps, and the fluid flow required for this is set based on the vessel characteristics.

The method and its possible further developments have features or method steps that make it particularly suitable for use in a pin oven and its further developments.

For further advantages, embodiment variations and embodiment details of the method and its possible further developments, reference is also made to the previously provided description of the corresponding features and further developments of the pin oven.

Preferred exemplary embodiments are explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. Among the drawings,
1 shows a schematic two-dimensional side view of an exemplary embodiment pin oven;
Figure 2 shows a schematic two-dimensional detail of the pin oven shown in Figure 1;
3 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary method.
In the drawings, identical or substantially functionally identical or similar elements are designated with like reference numerals.

Figure 1 shows a pin oven 100. The pin oven 100 includes a transport unit 102, which is designed as a chain. Transport unit 102 includes transfer pins 104, 104', 104" shown in FIG. 2. The container units 1, 1' are arranged on transport pins 104, 104', 104" so that they can be transported along a meandering drying section. Fin oven 100 further includes a fluidic device 108. The fluid device 108 includes a stabilization unit 110, a fluid recirculation unit 112, a fluid flow unit 115, a fluid cooling unit 118, and a vessel removal unit 120.

The container units 1, 1' are coated, in particular with a paint containing a solvent, in a printing device 134 that is not included in the pin oven 100. From the printing device 134, the container units 1, 1' are transferred to the pin oven 100. Printing device 134 and pin oven 100 may be coupled such that printing device 134 drives transport unit 102 .

The container units 1, 1' first enter the pre-drying frame 124. The stabilization unit 110 acts within the pre-drying frame 124 to stabilize the container units 1, 1' with fluid flow in the transport unit 102. The stabilization unit 110 is coupled to the control device 122 so that the container units 1, 1' are stabilized on the transport pins 104, 104', 104" based on the container characteristics. ) is adjusted by. Additionally, a chain tensioner 154 is provided within the pre-drying frame 124 to tension the chains of the transport unit 102 to always have a predefined tension.

The pin oven 100 further has a density measuring unit 140 that measures the container units 1, 1' entering the pin oven per unit of time. Density measuring unit 140 may have two or more density measuring sensors that enable redundant measurement of container unit density. Additionally, the pin oven 100 has a speed measuring unit 142 that measures the transport speed at which the container units 1, 1' are conveyed through the pin oven. And, the pin oven 100 has a vessel measurement unit 144 configured to measure vessel characteristics, such as length, wall thickness, and vessel condition.

Downstream of the pre-drying frame 124, the pin oven 100 has a bottom coater 126. Downstream of bottom coater 126, pin oven 100 has oven unit 128. Oven unit 128 forms oven chamber 152 in which vessel units 1, 1' are heated to a high temperature, such as above 180 degrees Celsius, for at least 0.5 seconds. For this purpose, the oven unit 128 has a heating unit 114 . Heating unit 114 may be, for example, a gas burner. The heating unit 114 flows in a fluid flow direction 116, i.e., first from the oven chamber 152 to the heating unit 114, then to the fluid recirculation unit 112, and then back to the oven chamber 152. It is coupled to a fluid recirculation unit 112 that moves the. Accordingly, a heated fluid flow is provided to the oven chamber 152.

Oven unit 128 is further coupled to fluid flow unit 115 . The fluid flow unit 115 is arranged and designed to provide fluid from the environment of the fin oven 100 to the oven unit 128 and direct fluid out of the oven unit 128. For this purpose, the fin oven has a fluid inlet device 136 and a fluid outlet device 138. Fluid introduction device 138 is further coupled to fluid flow sensor 146 configured to measure fluid flow.

Additionally, a first temperature sensor 148 and a second temperature sensor 150 are disposed within the oven chamber 152, which are configured to detect the vessel temperature of the vessel units 1, 1' along the drying section. The control device 122 is preferably configured to determine the temperature profile of the vessel units 1, 1' along the drying section. Moreover, it may be desirable to arrange, for example, three or more, in particular a plurality of temperature sensors, in order to determine the detailed temperature profile.

Downstream of the oven unit 128, a cooling zone 130 is provided. Cooling zone 130 is optional for fin oven 100 and is generally not required. In the cooling zone 130, a fluid cooling unit 118 is arranged and designed to cool the vessel units 1, 1' with fluid flow. A vessel extractor 132 is located at the outlet of the fluid cooling unit 118. The vessel extractor 132 has a vessel removal unit 120 which uses fluid flow to apply negative pressure against the bottoms of the vessel units 1, 1', removing them from the transport unit 102 and downstream. You can move them through the process steps.

This part of the transport unit 102 moves from there back to the entrance of the pin oven 100. The transport unit 102 is guided by a plurality of rollers 156.

Figure 2 shows a detailed view of the fin oven 100, i.e. the stabilization unit 110. Stabilization unit 110 includes an air duct 158. Openings 160 are provided on one side of the air duct 158. Fluid flow 162, guided to air duct 158, emerges through opening 160 and exerts fluid pressure thereon on vessel units 1, 1'. Due to this pressure, the container units 1, 1' are pressed onto the transport pins 104, 104', 104" or onto the fastening element 106 of the transport pins 104, 104', 104", respectively. do. As a result, the container units 1, 1' are stabilized.

Figure 3 shows a schematic diagram of a method for drying container units 1, 1', in particular cans. In step 200, the container units 1, 1' are transported along the drying section with transport pins 104, 104', 104". In step 202 , which may proceed partially or entirely parallel to step 200 , the vessel units 1 , 1 ′ are supplied with a fluid flow at least partially along the drying section. Meanwhile, in step 204, the fluid flow is adjusted substantially steplessly based on the vessel characteristics of the vessel units 1, 1'.

Efficient drying process for vessel units 1, 1' using a fin oven 100 by steplessly adjusting the fluid flow device 108 based on the vessel characteristics of the vessel units 1, 1' This can be provided. Compared to known pin ovens, such pin oven 100 saves resources and requires less energy.

Additional energy savings can be achieved by components of the fin oven 100, such as speeds and detection of vessel characteristics or vessel conditions, allowing the fluid flow device 108 to: It can be controlled so that the necessary engineering effects can be achieved while consuming as little energy as possible.

1, 1' container unit
100 pin oven
102 transport unit
104, 104', 104'' transfer pin
106 Fixed element
108 fluid flow device
110 stabilization unit
112 Fluid Recirculation Unit
114 heating unit
115 fluid flow unit
116 Fluid flow direction
118 fluid cooling unit
120 container removal unit
122 control unit
124 pre-dry frame
126 bottom coater
128 oven unit
130 cooling zone
132 vessel extractor
134 printing device
136 fluid inlet device
138 fluid drain device
140 density measuring units
142 Speed measurement unit
144 Tare Measuring Unit
146 fluid flow sensor
148 first temperature sensor
150 second temperature sensor
152 oven chamber
154 chain tensioner
156 roller
158 air duct
160 openings
162 fluid flow

Claims (17)

In a drying device for drying container units 1, 1', in particular candles, in particular a pin oven 100,
In particular, a transport unit 102 with transport pins 104, 104', 104", which transport unit 102 is designed to transport the container units 1, 1' along a drying section,
a fluid flow device (108) designed to supply a fluid flow to the vessel units (1, 1') at least partially along the drying section, and
Coupled to the fluid flow device 108 by signals, said vessel units (1, 1') for supplying said vessel units (1, 1') with said fluid flow having predefined fluid flow characteristics. A control device (122) configured to substantially steplessly adjust the fluid flow device (108) based on the vessel characteristics of
Including,
drying device.
According to claim 1,
The container characteristic is characterized by the transport speed at which the transport unit 102 transports the container units 1, 1', and/or the number of container units 1, 1' transported per unit time. unit density,
drying device.
According to claim 1 or 2,
Density measurement unit 140 configured to detect the container unit density.
Including,
Preferably the density measuring unit has two or more density measuring sensors to redundantly detect the container unit density.
drying device.
According to any one of claims 1 to 3,
Fluid flow measurement unit 146 for detecting exhaust air flow from the fin oven 100
Including,
Preferably the fluid flow measurement unit has two or more fluid flow measurement sensors for redundantly detecting the exhaust air flow from the fin oven.
drying device.
According to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A speed measurement unit 142 configured to detect the conveying speed.
Including,
Preferably the speed measurement unit 142 has a light barrier and/or an induction sensor.
drying device.
According to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The control device (122) is configured to steplessly adjust the fluid flow device (108) so that a predefined fluid pressure and/or fluid volume delivered per unit time can be provided.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The control device (122) is configured to adjust the fluid flow device (108) based on the state of at least one of the container units (1, 1').
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
a condition measuring device (144) arranged and designed to detect the condition of said at least one vessel,
Preferably said at least one container state is a shell surface of said container units (1, 1'),
The control device 122 is configured to determine the solvent input amount based on the detected container state and the detected container unit density,
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 8,
The control device is configured to determine a minimum exhaust air flow considering the solvent input amount,
Preferably the control device controls the fluid flow device such that the fluid flow device delivers the minimum exhaust air flow out of the fin oven, in particular the oven chamber.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 9,
The control device is configured to determine the solvent dosage based on the container unit size, the amount of solvent per container unit, and the container unit density.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10,
A fluid inlet unit (136) to allow supply air flow into the fin oven (100).
Including,
The control device 122 is coupled to the fluid inlet unit 136 by signals such that the supply air flow entering the fin oven 100 is substantially similar to the outlet air flow leaving the fin oven 100. configured to control the fluid inlet unit (136) to match,
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 11,
Oven chamber 152 for supplying heated fluid to the vessel units 1, 1'
Including,
The fluid flow device (108) includes a fluid recirculation unit (102) arranged and designed to recirculate fluid within the oven chamber (152),
The control device (122) is configured to detect material deposits when the differential pressure of the fluid recirculating unit changes from the reference speed and reference temperature of the fluid recirculating unit.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 12,
At least two temperature sensors (148) coupled by signals to the control device (122) and configured to detect the vessel temperature of the vessel units (1, 1') along the drying section within the oven chamber. , 150)
Including,
The control device (122) is configured to determine the temperature profile of the vessel units (1, 1') along the drying section.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
The fluid flow device (108) comprises a stabilization unit (110) designed to stabilize the vessel units (1, 1'),
The stabilization unit 110 is adjustable by the control device 122 such that the vessel units 1, 1' are stabilized on the transport pins 104, 104', 104" based on the vessel characteristics. ,
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 14,
The fluid flow device (108) comprises a cooling unit (118) designed to cool the vessel units (1, 1'),
The cooling unit (118) is adjustable by the control device (122) such that the vessel units (1, 1') are cooled based on the vessel characteristics.
drying device.
The method according to any one of claims 1 to 15,
The fluid flow device (108) includes a vessel removal unit (120) designed to remove the vessel units (1, 1') from the transfer pins (104, 104', 104"),
wherein the vessel removal unit (120) is adjustable by the control unit (122) based on the vessel characteristics,
drying device.
A method for drying container units (1, 1'), in particular candles, comprising:
transporting the container units (1, 1') along the drying section, in particular with transport pins (104, 104, 104");
supplying a fluid flow to the vessel units (1, 1') at least partially along the drying section; and
substantially steplessly adjusting the fluid flow based on the vessel characteristics of the vessel units (1, 1')
Including,
method.